Pack binding construction



Jan. 19, 1937. F. s. SCHADE PACK BINDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 22, 1935 WM IIIIIIII INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES zptszso PATENT orricr.

PACK BINDING CONSTRUCTION Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, .Mass., assignor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts p U Application October 22, 1935, Serial No. 46,148

10 Claims. (01. 281-44) T In the manufacture of memorandum pads for desk or telephone use no structure, so far as I am aware, has hitherto been produced which, when the used sheets are successively withdrawn, would preserve the same neatness as is possessed originally by a bound pad. A memorandum pad of the permanently bound type is initially of good appearance, but the used sheets have to be torn away leavingthe binding and the stub ends of the torn sheets projecting in an unsightly man- I ner. Various mechanical devices for holding packs of loose sheets to permit their complete individual withdrawal without leaving torn stubs have also been proposed, but these also have been subject to many objections. One very common objection to these mechanical devices has been their bulky or otherwise poor appearance, which was in general equally poor when the pack was full and when it was nearly exhausted. Further difiiculties with these prior devices have been the lack of facility with which a fresh pack of sheets could be inserted, particularly when it was desired for the sake of appearance to have the new sheets neatly piled together.

The present invention relates to a mechanical binding device suitable for holding packs of unconnected sheets for use as a memorandum pad or the like. One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will present the same very neat appearance irrespective of the number of sheets in the pack, and which will give a general effect to the eye substantially that of a bound pad. A further object is to provide such a device which will exert a tight binding action upon the sheets under all conditions of pack thickness, but which will permit the withdrawal of the top sheet of the pack without disturbing the underlying sheets and without leaving any unsightly torn stubs. A further object is to provide such a device which will permit the insertion of a fresh pack into binding position without any interference from the binding means, and in which the binding means can readily be held out of the way during the time the fresh sheets are inserted without adding to the complexity of the device or detracting from its appearance. Additional objects will appear from the following description and drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of memorandum pad constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. l with the parts in position for the insertion i of a fresh paper pack;

sheets in the binder.

Fig. 3 is a detail'section of the form shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is aside elevation, partly broken away, showing a modified form, the parts being shown in binding position;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of the form shown in Fig. 4 with the parts in position for the insertion of a fresh paper pack;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a second modified form, the parts being shown in binding position;

Fig. 7 is a detail section of the form shown in Fig. 6 with the parts in position for the insertion of a fresh paper pack;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a third modified form, the parts being shownin binding position; and v Fig. 9 is a detail section of the form shown in Fig. 8, with the parts in position for the in'ser tion of a freshpaper pack.

The pack is preferably mounted on a base III,

which may be of cardboard, and of a size preferably somewhat larger than that of the sheets I I to be bound. At one end is a member I2, conveniently made in angular form, which serves as an end binding forthe pack of sheets, as a support for the binding mechanism, and as a means for holding the binding element out of contact with the pack when it is desired to insert fresh The member I! is, in the case shown, held to the base It) by clip portions 13 struck up from its bottom, passing through the base'lfl, and bent over. These portions may be countersunk into the material of the base if desired. The angular member l2 serves as the bottom of a clamp, the top piece of 'which is formed by a 'channel shaped'p'iece M. The sides It of the latter piece are bent up and over'to form a partially 7 closed channel. Through this channel, and underneath the member l2 so as to be held to the base by the clip portions l3, extends an elastic band I6, which may be of rubber but which is preferably of an elastic fabric on account of its superior appearance. One side of the channel member I4 is provided with short slots ll spaced so as to fit onto lugs l8 formed on'the vertical leg'of the angular member l2.

When theclamping means is in position to grip a pack of sheets the bottom of the channel-shaped member [4 rests on the top of the pack, and due to the tension of the elastic band presses the pack firmly against the horizontal leg of the angular member I2. The pressure thus exerted is sufficient to hold the pack assembled for all horizontally extending part of the ordinary use. The member 14 is preferably made of metal having a fairly smooth surface. Experience has shown that with my construction a pull exerted on the uppermost sheet will cause this sheet to be withdrawn from the pack without in any way disturbing the remaining pack formation. The sheets can thus be withdrawn from the pack individually as they are used, without tearing the sheets off from their bound stubs as in the usual construction.

When it is desired to insert extra sheets or a fresh pack in the binder the channel member I4 is drawn upwardly and the slots ll placed on the lugs l8, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The elastic band [6 is tensioned at the sides of the pack, and as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 is positioned so as to form side guides which assist in placing the new pack properly in the binder. The member I 4 is held up out of the way without any necessity for the use of the hands for maintaining it in that position, the base of the member l4 and the inturned side l5 adjacent the slot embracing the lug l8 so as to give a firm support for the channel member and to prevent it from tilting over. When the pack has been inserted and. both hands are free, the channel member can be lifted off from the lugs and again placed on the top of the pack, as in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the angular member 20 is held to the base It] as before, but both it and the upper clamping mem her are made somewhat different in form. In this and succeeding cases, parts which are unchanged in the several modifications are denoted by the same reference characters. The upper clamping piece 2| is here left flat along its length, although if desired for purposes of appearance it could be channeled as in Fig. 1. At its ends this upper piece is bent upwardly at 22, and has formed in these upwardly bent ends slots 23 which permit the passage of the elastic band I6. No special slots in the upper clamping member are necessary in this case in order to permit it to be held out of the way while a fresh pack is being put into place, this function being entirely taken care of by lugs 24 which are struck out rearwardly from the upstanding part of the angular member 20. As shown in Fig. 5 the body of the angular member fits into the space between these lugs and the straight part of the angular member so as to give a firm support to the upper clamping piece and hold it elevated against the tension of the elastic band. The operation of this form of device is the same as that first described, and need not be repeated.

In the form of Figs. 6 and '7 the construction of the base and the angular piece I2 is the same as illustrated in Fig. 1, but a different type of upper clamping piece is used. While this clamping piece was shown in an upwardly opening channel in Fig. 1, in the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it is folded so as to have the opening of the channel at one side. As shown, the closed side of the channel is provided with slots 3| to engage the lugs l8 previously described. The lugs are in this case grasped between the two parallel legs of the channel when the upper clamping piece is in the inactive position of Fig. 7 so as to hold it against tilting.

Still another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this case the form of channel illustrated in Fig. 4 is shown, although other forms could be used by suitable modification of the shape of the parts. The only constructional change is in the form givento the angular member 35, the upper portion of which in this type is bent over to form a saddle 36 preferably slightly concave in form. When the channel shaped member is lifted from the stack it can be set into this channel as indicated in Fig. 9 until the fresh pack of sheets has been put into position.

In view of the several modifications illustrated it will be apparent that the invention may be given various forms, others of which will occur to those skilled in the art in view of the teaching here given.

What I claim is:

1. A pack binding construction comprising upper and lower binding members, an elastic pressure element flexibly joining the two members and forming the sole connection between said members when the latter are in binding position, andmeans to support the upper binding member out of binding position to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

2. A pack binding construction comprising upper and lower binding members, an elastic pressure element flexibly joining the two members and forming the sole connection between said members when the latterare in binding position, and a support integral with the lower binding member for supporting the upper binding member out of binding position to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

3. A pack binding construction comprising a base, a lower binding member secured to the base, an upper binding member adapted to rest upon. the pack, and having a substantially fiat pack contacting surface, an endless elastic band encircling both of said binding members to cause binding pressure upon the pack, said upper binding member being secured on said band, and means to releasably hold the upper binding member free of the pack against the action of the band.

4. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall, an upper binding member adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack and having means thereon to retain in position an elastic pressure band, an elastic pressure band joining said binding members, and interfitting connections between the upper binding member and the upstanding rear wall of the lower binding member'to hold said upper binding member in an inactive position against the force of the pressure band to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

5. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall, an upper binding member channel shaped in cross section and adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack, an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member and passing through said channel, and interfitting connections between the upper binding member and the upstanding rear wall of the lower binding member to hold saidupper binding member in an inactive position against the force of the pressure band to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

6. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall provided with spaced lugs, an upper binding member channel shaped in cross section and adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack, said upper binding member having slots therein adapted to interfit with the lugs on the rear wall of the lower binding member to hold the upper binding member in an inactive position, and an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member and passing through said channel.

'7. A pack binding construction comprising a case, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall provided with spaced lugs, an upper binding member having a substantially fiat side adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack and having its sides bent up and over to form a channel open at its top, an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member and passing through said channel, said upper binding member having slots formed in one side of the channel to interfit with the lugs on the rear wall of the lower binding member to hold the upper binding member in an inactive position against the force of the pressure band to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

8. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall provided with spaced lugs, an upper binding member having a substantially flat side adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack and bent to form a channel open at one side, an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member and passing through said channel, said upper binding member having slots formed in the bend of the channel to interfit with the lugs on the rear wall of the lower binding member to hold the upper binding member in an inactive position against the force of the pressure band to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

9. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall provided with rearwardly extending struck up legs, an upper binding member having a substantially flat side adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack and bent upwardly at its ends to form vertically extending walls having slots therein, and an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member and passing through said slots, said upper binding member being adapted to be supported in an inactive position between the rear side of the rear wall of the lower binding member and said struck up lugs in order to facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

10. A pack binding construction comprising a base, an angular lower binding member secured to the base and having an upstanding rear wall, an upper binding member having a substantially fiat side adapted to rest upon the uppermost sheet of the pack, an elastic pressure band secured to the lower binding member, means on the upper binding member to retain the elastic pressure band, and means on the upper binding member and on the rear wall of the lower binding member to retain the upper binding member in an inactive position and facilitate the insertion of a fresh pack of sheets.

FRANK STANLEY SCHADE. 

